The other highly interesting discussion on F2F has inspired me to take up the challenge to learn it. I've read the relevant part of the SurvCE manual, as well as the paper written by That Cad Girl, but still need some guidance on how to get started using it for rural topo mapping. Richard pretty much nailed my needs in the other thread: Ditches, trails, walls, fences, culverts, breaklines etc.
I looked on my DC and found no .fcl files; When I click on "Feature Code List", it's empty, but did note the "Special Codes" tab, which, under the "Carlson" group, had about a dozen of what I assume are reserved codes, (although I'm perplexed as to why "+7" would be "Begin Line" and "-7" would be "End Line"...I thought those were something more mundane like "ST" and "END").
At any rate, the questions are:
1. Are these Special Codes part of an .fcl file already in the DC? I see I can add and edit them in the DC, but if this is just a text file I can edit elsewhere, I think it'd be easier. Or is this something separate from an .fcl?
2. Should I start with what's there, or use someone's pre-made .fcl that has stuff useful for topo ("Ditch Center Line" for example)?
Any other advice on how to get started (besides RTFM, which I've done), is appreciated.
I'm not a big fan of having a pull-down list on the DC. I just have a list of 2-3 letter codes - ok some go 4, but they're mostly easy enough to figure. EOP is edge of pavement, CC is concrete curb, etc.
With that it's pretty simple to just type, CC+7 to start a line. I don't bother ending the line because it'll end automatically, and when you begin another CC, as long as you use +7, it won't connect the two lines up.
I keep it simple, and only use the +7, PC (3 point curve), and PT (ending for a multi point curve). I've done lots of topo just using those, and it works fairly well in my opinion.
rfc, post: 397611, member: 8882 wrote: I looked on my DC and found no .fcl files; When I click on "Feature Code List", it's empty, but did note the "Special Codes" tab, which, under the "Carlson" group, had about a dozen of what I assume are reserved codes, (although I'm perplexed as to why "+7" would be "Begin Line" and "-7" would be "End Line"...I thought those were something more mundane like "ST" and "END").
I believe the +7 and -7 codes were default "Begin Linework" and "End Linework" codes that were used eons ago for collectors that didn't have alpha-based keyboards (and I'm not personally a fan of the +7/-7 codes as their meaning may not be clear to future generations who might eventually work with the data). To me, "DL BEG" ... and "DL END" would be much more intuitive than "DL +7" ... and "DL -7". However, the choice of what to use is completely up to you.
rfc, post: 397611, member: 8882 wrote: At any rate, the questions are:
1. Are these Special Codes part of an .fcl file already in the DC? I see I can add and edit them in the DC, but if this is just a text file I can edit elsewhere, I think it'd be easier. Or is this something separate from an .fcl?
The "Special Codes" are not a native part of the (or an) FCL file. At it's most basic, an FCL file is essentially a comma-delimited file consisting of five fields:
[INDENT]Code, IsLineWork, Is3DLinework, Layer, Text/Description[/INDENT]
e.g.
[INDENT]GS, N, N, POINT_LAYER, Point Text
2DP, Y, N, 2D_PLINE_LAYER, 2D Poly Text
3DP, Y, Y, 3D_POLYLINE_LAYER, 3D Poly Text[/INDENT]
rfc, post: 397611, member: 8882 wrote: 2. Should I start with what's there, or use someone's pre-made .fcl that has stuff useful for topo ("Ditch Center Line" for example)?
The choice is yours but my typical recommendation is to input the field codes you commonly use so that your field coding practices don't need to necessarily change.
Ladd Nelson, post: 397687, member: 307 wrote:
The "Special Codes" are not a native part of the (or an) FCL file. At it's most basic, an FCL file is essentially a comma-delimited file consisting of five fields:
[INDENT]Code, IsLineWork, Is3DLinework, Layer, Text/Description[/INDENT]
e.g.
[INDENT]GS, N, N, POINT_LAYER, Point Text
2DP, Y, N, 2D_PLINE_LAYER, 2D Poly Text
3DP, Y, Y, 3D_POLYLINE_LAYER, 3D Poly Text[/INDENT]The choice is yours but my typical recommendation is to input the field codes you commonly use so that your field coding practices don't need to necessarily change.
Ladd:
Thanks very much for that explanation. Big help. I won't worry about special codes for now then, but given that I don't yet "commonly use" ANY field code practices, I'm a bit reluctant to try creating one from scratch. Would it be improper to ask others if they would share their .fcl file, or are these the result of hours of work (which might call for reasonable compensation)? I don't want to be presumptuous. I've looked on the Carlson web site for such a "template" file but can find none.
rfc, post: 397697, member: 8882 wrote: Ladd:
Thanks very much for that explanation. Big help. I won't worry about special codes for now then, but given that I don't yet "commonly use" ANY field code practices, I'm a bit reluctant to try creating one from scratch. Would it be improper to ask others if they would share their .fcl file, or are these the result of hours of work (which might call for reasonable compensation)? I don't want to be presumptuous. I've looked on the Carlson web site for such a "template" file but can find none.
An example FCL file based on the Iowa DOT survey codes but with a layering convention consistent with the National CAD Standards is posted to my DropBox account. Use/modify as you see fit.
Ladd Nelson, post: 397736, member: 307 wrote: An example FCL file based on the Iowa DOT survey codes but with a layering convention consistent with the National CAD Standards is posted to my DropBox account. Use/modify as you see fit.
Thanks Ladd. That definitely got me started in fine fashion. I was uncertain what the first field was for. The field starting with the "$". See here:
"$Man-made Items, BLD, Y, N, V-BLDG-OTLN, Building Corner"...
It parsed into SurvCE with that in the "Code" field. So I just deleted all those, and everything seems fine in the DC. I'm a little uncertain how to specify polyline types. Is that done typically done according to layers in the CAD program? Other than figuring that out, I think I can take this to the field and try it out. Thanks again.
the $ codes are most likely codes that delineate which points are not to be used for surface definition. Field to finish, when properly done, will draft your linework nearly 100% so all you have to do in the office is add the appropriate labels and you're done. I utilize f2f for all of my field work regardless of the project.
VA LS 2867, post: 397837, member: 1444 wrote: Field to finish, when properly done, will draft your linework nearly 100% so all you have to do in the office is add the appropriate labels and you're done.
Thanks. But where do line weights, types get defined? In the DC, or in CAD?
@ Jason aka VA LS 2867.
Hi Jason. Just wanted to introduce myself. VA Beach is where I partly grew up. Spent 12 years of my misspent youth there. Finished High School (Cox) and started at Tidewater Community College there. Also it is where a buddy of mine's father had a surveying company and where I got my start in surveying.
Anyway, just good to see someone from the old country.
Scott
PS sorry for the hijack. I return you to our regular program.
rfc, post: 397838, member: 8882 wrote: Thanks. But where do line weights, types get defined? In the DC, or in CAD?
For Carlson, the lineweights are defined in your CAD template and not in the DC.
But where do line weights, types get defined? In the DC, or in CAD?
In CAD.
Mapman, post: 397839, member: 6096 wrote: @ Jason aka VA LS 2867.
Hi Jason. Just wanted to introduce myself. VA Beach is where I partly grew up. Spent 12 years of my misspent youth there. Finished High School (Cox) and started at Tidewater Community College there. Also it is where a buddy of mine's father had a surveying company and where I got my start in surveying.
Anyway, just good to see someone from the old country.
Scott
PS sorry for the hijack. I return you to our regular program.
What company was your dad with?
VA LS 2867, post: 398165, member: 1444 wrote: What company was your dad with?
Wasn't my dad. A friend of mine at high school; his father was a partner.
The company at the time was Marsh and Basguier (sp - it's been 40 years). I think it became just Basguier a few years after I left. Combination of surveying, engineering and soils testing.
I was just an instrument man at the time. We had 4 man crews. Kinda fun to have a bunch of guys hacking through the woods to set what are now 'ancient' monuments. Worked a few subdivisions there. Worked under an old chief called Willie I believe. Had an unusual accent. Think he was from Massachusetts or something.
Mapman, post: 398240, member: 6096 wrote: Wasn't my dad. A friend of mine at high school; his father was a partner.
The company at the time was Marsh and Basguier (sp - it's been 40 years). I think it became just Basguier a few years after I left. Combination of surveying, engineering and soils testing.
I was just an instrument man at the time. We had 4 man crews. Kinda fun to have a bunch of guys hacking through the woods to set what are now 'ancient' monuments. Worked a few subdivisions there. Worked under an old chief called Willie I believe. Had an unusual accent. Think he was from Massachusetts or something.
Yep, Marsh and Basgier did many plats back in the day. Joe Basgier retired just before I graduated from high school. The firm was incorporated into NDI. That's one firm you can't get any information from without paying a large fee.
